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Designed for High School Students
“Succeeding is inevitable for me. Success is my reality.”
Willie & Vivian Gaddis
Alethea Eunice Gaddis, Co-Founder
Randal L. Gaddis I, Co-Founder
Welcome to the Willie & Vivian Gaddis Foundation
We are dedicated to providing the very best in college access information and programming to youth and families. Every person has a "spark," something that ignites them to action. It's a burning desire that drives one to achieve above and beyond the ordinary. Our foundation seeks to prime that spark and passion, challenging young people to develop a vision for their lives. Their image should be fueled by that activity, talent, or academic subject that brings joy and peace. The picture should cause one to thrive and live a meaningful and life. We challenge parents to recognize that spark in their young children; a keen interest in music, numbers, art, creating, building, organizing, sports; fuel their sparks early!
To quote Olympian Wilma Rudolph, "Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us."
Our Hope:
- Every young person will recognize the value of learning and preparation.
- Every young person will realize their best path: a two-year college or university, a four-year college or university, or a professional trade or vocation.
- Parents, families, educators, clergy, and community organizations will embrace our role and responsibility to inspire children and youth to live extraordinary lives.
- No matter your age, realize it is not too late to seize new opportunities.
We look forward to serving you! Are you pursuing your purpose? What is your "spark?"
OUR PROGRAMS
The Willie & Vivian Gaddis Foundation is a publicly supported non-profit organization established to empower children and youth by promoting and providing educational and artistic opportunities for those at risk among this population.
Program initiatives include:
Jump Start College Experience
Since its inception, the Jump Start College Experience has conducted over 300 hours of college preparatory and life skills workshops in pre-tour and on-the-tour programming. Our workshops focus on leadership, discovering a career, selecting a college, paying for college, civic responsibility, physical and mental wellness, choosing your tribe (friends), networking, time management, healthy life choices, and more.
We explore topics designed to enhance and promote personal development and college choices if that is their path. During a three- to five-day travel journey, the program exposes youth who reside in the City of Columbus and the surrounding area primarily to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). While on tour, students explore campuses with a walking tour, admissions presentation, school scholarship offerings, and question and answer with current students. When the schedule permits, students experience lunch on campus. The pre-tour programming and in-person experience position students to compare the various campus environments presented.
Academic Scholarships
In addition, as a commitment to scholarship, the following initial awards established were The Willie Lee Gaddis Scholarship, The Vivian Ann Thompson Gaddis Scholarship, and The Debra Ann Gaddis-Sawyer Memorial Scholarship. Our first three scholarships were awarded in 2004. We have also added these scholarship awards: The Jump Start Academic Scholarship, The Marvin and Essie (Flemister) Thompson Legacy Scholarship, The Willie and Eunice (McGee) Legacy Scholarship, The Ruby (Moncrief) Gaddis Legacy Scholarship. Awards are available based on the availability of funds, with the next round of scholarships proposed to be available in 2024.
The Gaddis and respective family branches represented here bear importance because we are the seed of sharecroppers, enslaved people, and those of African heritage. The scholarships honor their yearning and desire for better opportunities. Student recipients represent their dreams. The Debra Ann Gaddis-Sawyer scholarship is to remember the Gaddis sibling gone too soon. Tax-deductible contributions can be made via Givelify by clicking here. Checks can also be made payable to The Willie and Vivian Gaddis Foundation, and mailed to P.O. Box 360832, Columbus, OH 43236.
OPEN TO STUDENTS IN GRADES 9 THROUGH 12
Open to students in grades 9-12, the Jump Start College Experience Tour is jam-packed with everything you need to know about college and life choices. Be empowered and informed as you make important decision about what university or college to attend or what career path to choose.
2025 Community Partners
